Thieves targeting walking tracks
"If they can't see anything they are not going to break in." Sian Bullen, Neighbourhood Support
Opportunistic thieves are making the most of the good weather by breaking into cars parked at popular walking spots.
Neighbourhood Support officer Sian Bullen said in the past two weeks about eight to 10 cars had been broken into at the Manawatu Gorge, Ashhurst Domain and Massey University walking track car parks.
Bullen said good weather seemed to have more people out using the tracks and walking areas, which had resulted in an increase in thefts.
‘‘They leave their wallets or leave their bags [in the car] while they go for a walk.’’
She said even one thing left in the car could draw the attention of thieves.
‘‘If they can’t see anything they are not going to break in, so it’s about not leaving anything in your car.’’
On top of thefts from cars, stolen vehicles remain high, with 11 cars and motorcycles reported stolen in the Palmerston North area in the past week.
‘‘Try to park in busy, open, welllit areas and always lock your car,’’ Bullen said.
Locking car doors as well as home doors was important as Bullen said some thieves had been stealing from houses in the dead of night, while people were in the home. She said a way they could try and see if you were home was by knocking on your door and then trying to see if it was open.
Bullen said an example of how easy it could be for someone to commit a burglary was to visit a friend’s house and knock on the door, then start walking through the house to find them.
It could be a while before you saw them, which was what some thieves were taking advantage of, she said.
‘‘People are trying that, going in and... just trying their luck. At night too, coming through, checking the back doors.’’